The Pre MYOH 2009 Special Event

Last night was super fun because my Havie group got invited to a special event to introduce this year's Make Your Own Havaianas at the Rockwell Tent! What made it extra exciting was the fact that each of us was entitled to a customized, complimentary pair. We've been so loyal to Havaianas since the brand was introduced locally a few years back and this was surely their way of thanking us for our support.

Super cool invitation! I got mine a week before and momentarily misplaced it but I found it just in time. Notice the pop up flip flops? Sabine went crazy when she saw this.


We all met up at nearby UCC Cafe first for merienda
(can we ever not include food in our agenda?)

Then it was time to troop to the tent before we knew it


Posed first by the entrance, before attacking the place

Despite the limited guest list, the place was packed! Food and drinks were overflowing and there was a brief fashion show to showcase this year's pins


Culture and life-style themed pins (jeepney, sorbetero cart, vinta, lomo camera, musical notes, vintage TV boombox, and more plus the ever present Swarovski pins)




With my goodie bag which was also a gift from them

I chose the marine blue soles with spring green straps and lomo cam and beach pins.
LOVE!!!

More pics later! Meantime, we're gearing up for the actual first day of MYOH on the 28th so we can grab our 2nd, 3rd, 4th pairs? HAHAHA!

Sad News (yet again)

I got a text message a few minutes ago from a former colleague who informed me of this terrible accident that happened today. A boat was en route to Puerto Galera when one of its outriggers broke. As of this afternoon, there were 12 fatalities out of 60 plus passengers.

Unfortunately, two of the fatalities are the mother and son of another former colleague, Mon E. who runs the very successful Myron's Restaurants. His son Franco was only 3 yrs old. I was told that his older son survived but is still in the hospital. His 2 yr old nephew, son of his sister also perished in the accident.

Just weeks ago, I blogged about a high school friend who lost her 11 yr old daughter to a freak accident involving a water heater in the shower.
And now this. It gave me goose bumps because I remember that a few years ago, I went with Neal to Galera on one of his dive trips. The usual 30-minute or so boat ride from the Batangas Port to Galera took more than an hour because the waves were so huge. We were drenched from head to foot and I was close to freaking out because it really felt like the water was going to eat us all up. A friend told me that the waters there are really very dangerous.

My heart and prayers go out to Mon and his wife at this very difficult time.

FULL ARTICLE here

There is nothing else I would rather be

At the ripe old age of 40, I can truly say that motherhood is the best thing that's ever happened to me. My girls are growing up well and healthy and there is nothing more I can ask for.

As the entire world celebrates Mother's Day, I can't help but be thankful for the two biggest blessings God has ever given me --- my kids and my Mom. I thank my Mom for being the kind of mother that she was to me while I was growing up because everything she taught me, I will be passing on to my girls. And I'm thankful to Anissa and Sabine for the joy they continue to bring and that blissful feeling I get whenever I look at them.

I can be successful in everything else I do. But only one role fulfills me like no other.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

to all the wonderful Moms out there!

Betty La Fea (mini version)

What happens when Mommy leaves her make up kit lying around?

HAHAHA!

Are you an OC Mom like me?

If you're nodding your head, then this is definitely for you.

I very recently discovered it and since then, I've never been without it! Well, come to think of it, I've never gone out of the house without a bottle of hand sanitizer inside my purse. And mind you, I'm not the only one who uses it. My entire family has picked up the habit because I used to force them to use sanitizer all the time. But I ditched my commercial brand, the same one I've been buying and using for years, in favor of this...

STERILIUM Alcohol-based Hand Disinfectant

And here's why:

Propanol-based hand disinfectant

* exceptionally good skin tolerability even with long-term use
* excellent skin protection and skin care properties
* effective against a broad range of microorganisms and viruses
* very good residual and persistent effect

Active ingredients in 100 g
Propan-2-ol 45.0 g, propan-1-ol 30.0 g,
mecetronium ethyl sulfate 0.2 g.

Areas of application
Sterillium® is an alcohol rub-in disinfectant suitable for Hygienic and Surgical Hand Disinfection. The great advantage of the use of Sterillium® is that hand disinfection can be carried out anywhere, independently of a washbasin and water. The preparation is used in all areas where hygiene is important, such as

* wards (incl. sanitation areas)
* functional areas (operating theatres, intensive care units, infection departments)
* ambulances
* laboratories, domestic services
* departments, cleaning services
* medical practices of all disciplines
* home-care of patients, old people and babies
* industry

Microbiological activity/Directions for use
Sterillium® is rubbed undiluted into dry hands; care must be taken to ensure that the hands remain moist during the period of application.
Hygienic Hand Disinfection at least 3 ml - 30 s
Tb prophylaxis apply twice
Surgical Hand Disinfection at least 6 ml - 1.5 min
Salmonella, Listeria, MRSA 30 s
Virucidal against enveloped viruses (incl. HBV, HIV, HCV) 30 s
SARS virus 30 s
Adeno virus 1 min
Polyoma virus 5 min
Rota virus 30 s

Major hospitals have jumped on the Sterilium bandwagon : St. Luke's, Makati Med, Medical City, Asian Hospital and Cardinal Santos. Even a lot of private practices use this in their clinics. I love it because it doesn't dry my skin, unlike other alcohol-based disinfectants.

For someone who grew up with a constant supply of Lysol at home, this is truly heaven sent! I even use it to disinfect public toilets even if I don't sit hahaha! This is not sold at retail yet but you can get it from me at very friendly prices.

There are two sizes : 100 ml (at P200 per bottle) and 1 liter (at P800). Guess which size I have? I can give discounts for bulk orders.

Send me a PM or text me at 0928 5083345 to place your orders.

Gone Too Soon...

I was so shocked to have received the text message from a high school batchmate and friend, about the passing of another friend/batchmate's 11 yr old daughter recently. Didn't know at first what the cause of her daughter's death was but regardless of the circumstances, how do you deal with the pain of losing a child? That was the question running through my head at that time, and up to the time I and other girls from our batch went to the wake last night.

It was only then that we got to talk to our friend, the child's mother about how it all happened. Her daughter was taking a shower and died of electrocution. The culprit? Their water heater. Hearing the story sent chills up my spine! Primarily because it was all so tragic. How can you lose your precious child under such a freak and tragic circumstance??? Secondly, I immediately remembered that I have water heaters installed in our bathrooms at home and using it at bath time is so routine for all of us, including the kids.

How can we prevent something like this from happening? I had so many questions on my mind but didn't have the heart to ask my friend what they thought really happened or if the heater was defective. She had too much on her plate as it was. I don't even want to imagine the kind of pain she's going through right now.

When I got home last night, I couldn't sleep right away thinking of what to do with the heaters at home. Today, I specifically told everyone not to use the heaters until we're sure they're in perfect working condition. I went back to basics and used the popular "tabo" when I took my showers today. Does anyone have any inputs on this?

Meantime, please help me pray for the eternal rest of Nicole and strength and acceptance for those she left behind...